EVALUATION OF GAS EXCHANGE IN PATIENTS WITH CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE

• Main Authors: Vanessa Emille Carvalho de Sousa, Michelle Helcias Montoril, Lívia Maia Pascoal, Marcos Venícios de Oliveira Lopes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal do Paraná 2010-12-01
• Series: Cogitare Enfermagem
• Subjects: Nursing diagnosis; Pulmonary gas exchange; Heart failure
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.5380/ce.v15i4.20365

The pathophysiology of congestive heart failure (CHF) reflects in imbalances in ventilation-perfusion injury that can directly affect patient survival. The nursing staff can monitor and prevent this problem with the use of nursing classifications, however, research that addresses the use of these instruments are lacking. This cross-sectional, descriptive-exploratory study aimed to evaluate the degree of gas exchange impairment in patients with CHF based on the Nursing Outcomes Classification. It was performed on 37 patients admitted to a specialized hospital with data obtained by interview, physical examination and consultation records. The results show that the clinical indicators depth and frequency of breathing, orthopnea, chest pains, drowsiness and urea were the most compromised. The development of results-based nursing researches is relevant and can contribute to consistent identification of nursing diagnoses, directing patient care.